Understanding the Opioid Epidemic Through Data Science: A Regional and Demographic Analysis

Description

Welcome to my data science portfolio, where I apply statistical and analytical skills to uncover critical insights into one of the most pressing public health crises in recent U.S. history. Using a comprehensive dataset from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on drug overdose death rates (1999–2016), this project explores key questions about how drug mortality has evolved over time, the demographic factors at play, and regional disparities in the epidemic.

Through interactive visualizations and in-depth analysis, you’ll discover:

1. Which regions of the U.S. have seen the sharpest increases in drug poisoning death rates over time.
   
2. Whether Hispanic origin is strongly associated with drug mortality across the nation.
   
3. How drug poisoning death rates differ between men and women in various U.S. regions.
   
4. Which age ranges see the most drug poisoning deaths?

This project not only demonstrates the power of data in addressing real-world challenges but also serves as a foundation for my growing expertise in public health analytics. Dive deeper into the insights on the full project page!

Link to Download Written Report

View the Full Analysis in My Written Report

Interactive Data Visualizations: Evolving Trends of the Opioid Crisis

These four compelling interactive plots will unravel the complexities of drug poisoning deaths across the United States from 1999 to 2016. These visualizations bring data to life, answering critical questions about regional trends, Hispanic origin and mortality, gender disparities, and age vulnerabilities.

Through clear and engaging graphs, these interactive plots uncover hidden insights, challenge assumptions, and guide viewers toward a deeper understanding of one of the most pressing public health crises of our time.

Figure 1 Description: This graph shows drug poisoning death rates (per 100,000) from 1999 to 2016 across U.S. regions compared to the national average (red line). The Northeast sees the sharpest rise, peaking near 28 deaths by 2016, while the South follows as the second-highest. The Midwest remains the lowest, and the West plateaus after an initial increase. This highlights regional disparities in the opioid epidemic’s impact.

Figure 2 Description: This line chart shows the association between race/ethnicity and drug-related mortality rates from 1999 to 2016, highlighting trends for Hispanic, Non-Hispanic Black, and Non-Hispanic White populations. Non-Hispanic Whites experienced the steepest increase in mortality, while Hispanics experiences the least steep increase.

Figure 3 Description: This bar chart illustrates the total number of drug poisoning deaths from 1999 to 2016, broken down by sex (Both Sexes, Female, Male). The data highlights a steady increase in deaths over time, with males consistently having higher counts.

Figure 4 Description: This faceted bar chart displays the total drug poisoning deaths from 1999 to 2016, segmented by age groups. Middle age groups (25–34, 35–44, 45–54) show the steepest increases in total deaths, particularly 25–34 and 45–54, which display significant jumps post-2010. Those on the tail ends of this data (youngest and oldest age groups of the population) have the lowest rates, but still exhibit some drug poisoning death rates.